– rainbow of music –

Category: Indie

After enthralling the European mainland, Nele Needs a Holiday are finally releasing their album, Love Yeah, in March. Rolling up to join the likes of Amanda Palmer and Adam Green, Nele’s (not pronounced Nelly but Nailer) heart is in her lyrics, the kind of involved, introspective observations which feel like diary posts as much song lyrics. As such, her wry observations of life and, specifically on this album, love, are not the kind of processed, cliches you’ll find in a zillion other songs but instead darkly comic, personal and sometimes acerbic.

Marrying up with her sound, Nele Needs a Holiday have a touring band of 7 female musicians, the whole cast appearing in matching costumes – this is entirely in keeping with their slightly cabaret, strangely English image (somewhere between the Bonzos and Divine Comedy), which is all the more confusing given they’re from Belgium.

Lead track, ‘We’ll See’, is, to throw a spanner in the works, is a far more poignant, reflective piece, with a nod towards soul as well as classical female singer-songwriters. Equally impressive is Nele’s expressive voice which is completely huggable and lovely. Check out the track above and look out for the album, a classic in the making.

This is not a drill! Snow alert! And yes, I am aware that we are just coming into August, it’s still summer but it’s true – it’s time for some SNOW. But don’t worry, there is no actual cold substance involved in this! It’s a name of a brand new single performed by Australian siblings – Angus & Julia Stone.

Angus and Julia, born and raised on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, grew up around musical talent, their parents, who taught them music at home, used to have their own folk band.

Both siblings play instruments and both are amazing song writers, they combined their incredible talents in 2006.Their success came quickly because of the magic of their music. The duo became famous worldwide, and many publishing companies and agencies showed interest in the brother-sister indie folk group.

So far, they’ve released three studio albums and won several ARIA Awards, including Album Of The Year.

Now, after a long break, they are coming back with a fresh album, also called Snow. The forthcoming album will be out later this year, on the 15th of September.

The leading single of the album is such a dreamy track but to be honest, it doesn’t have a lot to do with the actual snow apart from one line “ Blanket on my back, I’m cold, I’m cold again. Smile in the snow, tryna find something to say”. Well that… and if you fancy being out in the snow while you are listening to it, but I don’t think this can happen anytime soon!

The song seems to be about a relationship, or what is left of it. The ending is coming and the girl is wondering why the person won’t stay.

The duo’s harmony and the technique of delivering are superb, and their voices absolutely exquisite!

“Snow” makes you feel calm and you can almost imagine yourself facing the sun, wind in your hair and the slight curve of your smile…. Do yourself a favour and listen to this lovely song!

If you like good, solid, british indie-rock in all its glory, then ‘Social Experiment’ from Dead Pretties will be right up your street.

With hints of everything from Blur to The Beatles and Oasis to The Arctic Monkeys, Dead Pretties seem to be taking the best elements from all of these bands, creating a super-amalgamation showing just how good British music can be.

Simple, clean struck guitars work perfectly with Jacob Slater’s raw vocals before the overdrive comes in during the chorus for that extra slice of oomph.

The band even have a strong subtext to ‘Social Experiment’, commenting on the conformity of youth culture all within one line: ‘All the girls and boys went to parties in disguise‘.

Dead Pretties are sure to be a name you’re hearing more often in the coming future and ‘Social Experiment’ shows why. Check ’em out.

Hailing from the valleys of Wales, the talented singer-songwriter, Chey, is here with her storming debut single ‘Dirty Love’.

The track is a seductive, sultry piece of indie-pop combining heartfelt lyricism and enticing melodies, reminiscent of a lot of 90s alternative pop music.

Diversifying the music industry and creating an amalgamation of styles and genres, Chey certainly does not take a shy approach. “Dirty Love was written in the heat of the moment; having feelings about someone else can sometimes be the trigger you need to move on from the relationship you’re in. I recorded the vocals the same day it was written, to reflect the emotion I was feeling at that time, I wanted the single to be raw and edgy and convey as much passion as possible.”

Dirty Love adopts a unique view upon a love affair where the woman is in complete control of what happens. Speaking on the track Chey says “I wanted this song to emphasise the power of a woman and how she uses her sexuality to get what she wants.” Having had previous support from Chris Needs MBE (BBC Wales), Chey hopes her new single will captivate audiences with its alluring and distinct sound.

“The music is raw and unpretentious, juxtaposed with the vocals, which have an idiosyncratic style and are consistently engaging, while the lyrics are intriguing and intelligent.”

– Nigel Colley, Reflex Artists

Having found themselves a cult following in Manchester, unsigned genre-meddling indie act Liam Browne & The Love seem destined to take on the rest of the country with their eclectic and nutty Northern-rooted sound.

Straight off their upcoming album Forget & Remember, their brand new single ‘Baby Grow’ is an upbeat and bouncy indie rock anthem that provides a small taster of the band’s large sonic scope. A music video is set to drop soon.

Stream ‘Baby Grow’ on Soundcloud here:

Delivered with a raw and untamed Mancunian attitude, the album Forget & Remember is a crazy cocktail of lad rock, hip hop, folk and electronica all recorded in guitarist James Fraser’s garage (later mixed at Noise Boy Studios). Rowetta of the legendary Happy Mondays appears on two of the record’s tracks.

‘Somewhere between the ghostly gliding & luscious laments of Kate Bush, the boldness of Björk and the haunting images of Kylie Minogue floating in a lake, comes Sarah Kayte Foster.’ – Backseat Mafia

‘Resplendent, bold and ambitious. It’s her daringness to experiment – and those ethereal, oscillating vocals – that sets Daisy and The Dark apart’ – Chart Shaker

Cinematic in atmosphere and brimming with carnivalesque creativity, Circus is the brand new exciting EP from experimental pop artist Daisy and The Dark (aka Sarah Kayte Foster).

Previously a member of classical chart-topping band the Mediaeval Baebes for five years, Sarah left the band in 2014, after charting at No. 8 in the UK Classical Charts with the double album ‘Of Kings and Angels’.

She has since poured her musical talent into a solo career as Daisy, performing theatrical shows at Secret Garden Party and the Royal Albert Hall, and releasing her 2015 debut EP ‘Red Planet’ as a new interactive app which IBM called ‘the best collaboration between music and technology I’ve seen in a long time.’ The record went on to receive a whole host of online coverage, garnering praise from the likes of SupaJam, Chart Shaker and Noizze.

A vibrant video directed by BAFTA award winning Shreepali Patel accompanies lead single and title track ‘Circus’, with cinematography coming courtesy of award-winner Nicola Daley – making it one of the few music videos to have an all female team at the helm.

Sarah’s creative energy extends beyond music and she has worked extensively as a professional actress, as well as creating artwork, videos, costume and performance art all inspired, like her songs, by her great love of cinema and magic.

Her ethereal and other-worldly style is sure to appeal to fans of artists like Kate Bush, Bjork, FKA Twigs, Bat for Lashes and David Bowie.

Circus EP will be released on July 8th via Foster’s own label, Red Planet Records, and she will play a special free show at Miranda, Ace Hotel London on July 8th to mark the release. For limited free guest list contact info@daisyandthedark.com.